Root washer



oct. 19 1926. 1,603,944 2 M. L. Fox

oo'r WASHER Filed August 11 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR ATT Y- lioPatented Oct. 19, 19276.

UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHEVT L. FOX, GF NORTH ELLMORE, NEW YORK, `.ASSIG'NOR OF ONE-TH1RD TOOTT@ KAMPFE, OF .BELLMORE, NEW YORK.`

`Ror WASHER.

Application filed August 11, 191251. Serial No. 49,505.

This invention relates to an apparatus for Washing roots of vegetablesand other simi* lar articles When taken from the ground, s0 as to removethe dirt, and to prepare the saine in a preliminary manner for themarket and for use. In carrying out the invention the apparatus inade inaccordance therewith preferablycoinprises a tank or receptacle dividedinto compartments in which there are mounted revoluble drums, a drumbeing mounted in each compartment, and the drums being preferablyconnectedso as to turn in unison. The roots or vegetables, or otheryarticles to be cleaned are admitted to one of the drums Where they areWashed, and by suitable devices are then automatically transferred tothe next succeeding drum Where they are rinsed or further cleaned, andare then finally automatically delivered from the apparatus, suitablemeans being employed to turnythe drums and to set the devices fordelivering the roots, vegetables or 'other articles from one druin oranother as will be hereinafter more particularly described.

l'n the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation and partial section illustrating aroot vvasher made in accordance with my invention. 4

Fig. 2 is an end elevation and artial cross-section showing theapparatus for operating the drums, the s anie being taken on line 2-2,Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on line 8f3, "Fig, 1.

j Fig. 4L is a sectional elevation on line 1 -14, Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5*"5, Fig. 1.

My present invention relates to a machine for Washing roots and certainvegetables, as for example7 potatoes, carrots, turnips, onions and thelike as taken from the ground, in order to remove the earth from thesame by alcleansing' process, and thus to prepare the articles in apreliminary vvay for the market and for use. As shown inthe drawing theWasher comprising my present invention consists of a tank or receptacle10, having a base 11, upon which the tank rests.

WTithin the tank and dividing the same into f compartments there is apartition Wall 12. As illustrated the bottom Walls 18 and 14 of the tankare built at an inclination so that the same Will be self draining. Thecoinpartinents into which the interior of the tank is divided by thepartition Wall 12 are designated at 15 and 16, respectively. Adjacentthe partition vvall12 at the front of the tank there are dischargeopenings 17 and 18, provided respectively with doors or closers 19 and20, for the purpose as Will be understood of draining the compartmentsWhen this is necessary or advisable.`

Also as illustrated the Washer includes a Washer drum, and a rinserdrum. The Washer drum preferably comprises a plurality of rings orbands, which may be `suitably flanged the rings being indicated at `21and 22, and having connected thereto a` plurality of slats 23. rings insuitably spaced positions by any means whatsoever. Extending acress therings there are crossbars 24and 25. These cross bars are provided withopenings through `which a shaft 26 passes and upon which shaft the`Washer drum is" mounted. At one end this shaft 26 extends through theend Wall of the tank, or above the same as the case may be, and isjournaled in bearings 27 and 28. At the opposite end the shaft 26 alsoextends through or above the other end wall of the tank and is journaledin bearing 29. The bearings 27 and 28 are mounted in standards BO and31, and the bearing 29 in a standard 32.

The end of the Washer drum adjacent the end Wall of the tank is open. Atthe opposite end of the Washer drum, that is, the end thereof adjacentthe partition wall 12, the washer drum is provided with aWallBS. In thisvvall 33 there is an opening `34.; this opening 34 is preferably made inthe form of a quadrant, and is adapted to be covered or uncoif'ered by adoor 85, provided With suitable slots 36, `and mounted on hinges 37 soas to swing from a closed position in which the opening 311 is shut to aposition in which the opening is uncovered and the door These slatsarvesecured to the vided at the other end With a handle 43,

Which lies eXteriorly of the Washer drum so as to be readily accessible,and by means of which the rod may be moved longitudinally of the drum toswing the door from a closed to an open position, and vice versa. To

maintain lthe door in either one of said `positionsthe handle end of therodmay be hooked over suitable latches or otherwise.

The other drum Vor the rinser drum as illustrated is similarly7constructed. rlhis coinprises iianged rings i/t and 4-5 having crossbarsor spokes i6 and 4i?, extending diametrically across the rings, in whichcentrally the drum is mounted on the shat't 26. Connected eXteriorly oftheA rings 4A- and 45 there is a plurality ot' spaced slats 4S. The endof the rinser drum adjacent the partition Wall 12 is open, and at theopposite end adjacent the end Wall of the tank the rinser drum isprovided With a Wall 19. in this Wall i9, there is an opening 50. Thisopening is also preferably made in the torni olifr a quadrant. Adjacentthe opening 50 a bracket 51 is suitably connected to the Wall 419. Thisbracket which functions as a discharge chute is preferably iiXed inposition, and is provided with a plurality of slots 52 for th-e purposeof draining the bracket.

'lhe drums as hereinbefore described may be turned by any suitablemechanism and at any desired speed. As illustrated in the drawing, andparticularly inV Figs. 1 and 2 this actuating mechanism may comprise adrive-shaft 53, journaled in suitable bearingsV 54 and 55, and uponwhich there is mounted a pulley 56, and idler 57. Through the kpulleythe drive-shattmay be turned from any suitable source of power by a belt58. and 'the belt may be shifted from the pulley to the idler, and viceversa. by a belt shifter 59 or otherwise. lOn the drive-shaft 53 thereis a sprocketGO. Passing over this sprocket is a chain 61, which alsopasses over a'sprocket G2, fixed on a counter-shaft G3. On thecounter-shaft 63 there is a pinion 64., and this pinion 64 meshes With agear 65, suitably connected on the drum shaft 26. It vvill be understoodof course, that this drive mechanism is merely illustrative, as otherequivalent devices may be employed Without reference to the presentinvention. it will also be apparent that this mechanism may be such asto cause the Washer and rinser drums tor turn at any desired speed. Y

At one end of the apparatus I employ a chute 66, having suitable sides67, and upon which the articles to be cleaned are placed and permittedto slide into the Washer drum. The tank is supplied With Water or othercleansing fluid to any desired height, and as the drums revolve thearticles are agitated and Washed by coming into contact With the Wateror cleansing fluid. During this preliminary Washing the door 35 ispreferably closed, then afterv a predetermined period this door isopened and maintained in its open position, In the revolution of thekdrum this door then acts to carry the articles upwardly against thepartition vvall 12, and When the articles have been raised suiicientlyfar to clear this partition Wall they will slide from this door, Whichthen acts as a chute, into the rinser drum, passing through the opening34 in the vvall 33. The articles are agitated in a similar manner in therinser drum and carried upwardly by the bracket 51 until theyclearthe'endl Wall of lthe tank, when they are delivered through theopening 50 to a discharge chute 68 fitted with suitable sides 69 todirect the passage oi' the articles on the chute to any desiredreceptacle. Furthermore, it Will be understood that from time to time asmay be necessary the doors 19 and 20 may be opened, and the earth andother dirt Which accurnlr lates in the compartments of the tank may beWashed therefrom.

l claim as my invention:

'1, In an apparatus of the'class described, a tank, a Washer drumrevolubly mounted in the tank, a Wall having an opening therein at oneend of the Washer drum, a rinser drum also revolubly mounted in thetank,

and a door adapted in one position to close the opening in the said Wallat the end of" the washer drum and in another position to act as a slidefor the transfer of articles from the Washer drum to the rinser drum.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a tank, a partition Walldividing the tank into separate compartments, a Washer drum in Vonecompartment, a Wall having an opening therein at'one end of the Washerdrum, a rinser drum in another compartment, a door adapted when in oneposition to close theopeningl in the wall of the Washer drum and when inanother positionto act. -as a slide for the transfer of articles fromthe Washer drum to the rinser drum, and means for opening and closingand maintaining the said door in place in both its open and closedpositions.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a tank, aA partition vvalldividing` the tank into separate compartments, a Washer drum in onecompartment, and being open at one end, and having a Wall having anopening therein at the other end, a rinser drum in the. othercompartment, also being open at one end, and having a Wall at theopposite end.l a shaft. upon which the said drums are mounted, means forturning the said shaft, devices associated with the Wall at one end oi'the Washer drum for normally closing the opening' in the saine when inone position, and for actingr as a slide When in another position totransfer articles from the Washer drum to the rinser drum, and a deviceassociated with the Wall at the end of the rinser drinn forautomatically delivering' the articles therefrom.A

Signed by ine this 28th day of Jnly. 1995i MATTHEN L. FOX.

